Discover the
Cross Border Dialogue Conference

Target Audience

A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black sleeveless top, white pants, a pearl necklace, and a gold watch, holding a soda can and smiling while talking to a man with glasses and a white shirt.

We bring together a diverse group of people across different age groups and professions to foster understanding & create collaboration to the pressing problems of our regions

  • Community representatives from all generations

  • Young Professionals

  • Local Entrepreneurs

  • Students

  • You!

Cross Border Dialogue 2025

In Hainburg an der Donau

A large group of diverse young people gathered outdoors on steps, raising their hands and smiling for a group photo in front of a stone wall with grass and stairs.

CBD 2025 IN NUMBERS

3
DAYS

6
CHALLENGES

60
PARTICIPANTS

>100000
PEOPLE REACHED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

34
EFA CLUBS REACHED

130
OPENING CEREMONY GUESTS

Cross-Border Dialogue 2025 took place in Hainburg an der Donau in Austria from the 30th of April until the 2nd of May. These three days blended formal discussions, workshops, and networking to drive cross-border innovation.

Day 1 opened with an Opening Ceremony, which included a political panel and a scholarship award, attended by regional governors, EU reps, and academics. Evening continued with a shared dinner, providing space for networking and connection.

Days 2 and 3 focused on hackathon-style design-thinking sessions. Students, entrepreneurs, and community leaders iterated solutions during structured breaks, meals, and creative activities. The final day featured a "World Café" and "Idea Fair" for teams to refine and pitch actionable solutions.

Political Panel

To welcome and open the Cross-Border Dialogue 2025,

We invited high-level speakers to inspire the participants and our guests.

On the panel discussion titled
“Strong Europe Begins With Connected Regions”
spoke:

Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament representing Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner

Petra Korlaar, vice-mayor of Mikulov

Jan Grolich, governor of the South Moravian Region

Michaela Fritz, Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory board at EFA

A man in a dark suit with red glasses holds a microphone and reads from a tablet on stage at an event. Behind him is a large white banner with blue text that reads 'Every day a discovery, Free entry to attractions.' To the left, a partly visible screen shows a woman in a blue jacket, and some green bottles are on a table.
A woman with long brown hair smiling and sitting on a stage, wearing a black dress with red and pink polka dots, holding a notebook in her lap, with a backdrop showing solar panels and cloudy sky, and a banner that reads 'GREEN ENERGY'.

Moderated by Philipp Kamaryt, the panel united diverse perspectives: Jan Grolich emphasized regional collaboration as a catalyst for economic growth, while Michaela Fritz highlighted innovation’s role in bridging policy gaps. Petra Korlaar grounded discussions in local action, showcasing Mikulov’s cross-border initiatives, and MEP Lukas Mandl linked these efforts to EU-wide strategies, reinforcing how interconnected regions fortify Europe’s unity. Together, their insights created a compelling vision of cohesion — from grassroots to governance — as the foundation of a resilient Europe.

Hackathon

Hackathon 2025 revolved around 6 tracks:

Find out more in our report

Learn more

  • Reframing renewable energy as a shared opportunity, not a disruption.

  • Strengthening defense in sustainable, inclusive ways that engage and earn public support.

  • Reinforcing democratic values through mutual learning from Centralist and Federalist governance models.

  • Designing eco-friendly “last-mile” connections to link rural areas with public transport across Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia.

  • Boosting cross-border tourism through stronger collaboration with Czech and Slovak partners.

  • Reconnecting our regions through the stories, places, and legacies we share.